What happened
On September 28, 2013, at approximately 14:05 local time, a Jubi GmbH ASK 13 glider departed from the Eschwege-Stauffenbühl airfield for a local flight. The aircraft was operated by a pilot with extensive flight experience, accompanied by one passenger.
After approximately ten minutes of flight, the glider returned to the airfield to perform a landing on runway 20. Simultaneously, another glider was performing a winch takeoff from runway 02. During the final approach, the ASK 13's right wing made contact with the winch cable, which had been released by the departing aircraft just moments prior.
The impact caused the glider to crash approximately 170 meters from the winch station, sliding into dense bushes at the western edge of the airfield. The aircraft suffered heavy damage, including a broken wing and a destroyed cockpit area. Two persons sustained serious injuries during the accident.
The investigation
The BFU examined the wreckage and the site of the accident. Investigators found that the right wing had been severed by the winch cable between the aileron and the spar, with the cable still lodged at the fracture point. The left wing also broke approximately 1.5 meters from the wing root.
Physical evidence showed the aircraft's control surfaces remained functional prior to the impact, and the landing flaps were in a partially extended position. The investigation also reviewed the airfield's operational status, noting that at the time of the accident, the airfield was operating without an air traffic controller.